Held Racer Report: ZOEK RACING BRANDS HATCH INDY

ZOEK RACING BRANDS HATCH INDY

Sean Neary's bad luck continued at Brands Hatch when he crashed out of third place in the first of the two races in the TriOptions Ducati Cup championship but he made up for his mistake by recording a fourth place in the second encounter on Monday. Zoek Racing teammate Craig Currie took 11th in race one and ninth in the second 15 lap affair.

Qualifying for Neary went well and he qualified for a front row start as third fastest rider. As the first race got underway Neary got away well and got the hole shot into Paddock Hill Bend. But on lap three Rob Guiver demoted him to second place and two laps later Joe Collier went past leaving him down in third place. The pace was hot on the short Indy circuit and on the eighth lap Sean made a mistake and went down at Druids Hairpin his race over.

Held wearer Sean Neary

He said: "My nightmare start to season continues as I crashed out of third place. Sorry to my team and sponsors who don't deserve that. They are a brilliant team and great people. I can't get the bike setup how I want it at the moment. I've done enough testing so it's my own fault. Will start p2 tomorrow so will give it another go!"

On Easter Monday Neary started the second race once again from the front row and was third away but was soon pushed back to fourth as the riders headed towards Druids for the first time. Although he remained in close company to the top three he was unable to make a pass on them and as the race wore on the top four riders pulled well clear of the pursuing pack. He was embroiled in a close battle for position with Jonathan Railton and Phil Atkinson but finally had to settle for fourth place.

"After crashing in the first race I was always just going to bring it home safe this time. I didn't feel too confident as still not happy with the set up so didn’t really push it. At least I have picked up some points and we intend to go to Oulton on Thursday for a test to see if we can find out what the problem is."

Held wearer Craig Currie

Meanwhile Newark rider Craig Currie rode a steady race in the first encounter from a fourth row grid position to secure a good, safe 11th place. In the second race he again started from the fourth row and this time was circulating in 11th place over the first four laps before moving forward to 10th on lap five. He remained in 10th place throughout the final laps and was elevated to ninth when Taryn Skinner crashed out on the last lap.

Craig said: "I enjoyed that last race and am delighted to have picked up ninth place. I am now 10th in the championship on 21 points and am really happy with that. I am aiming for a top 10 end to the season this year so am on course so far."

The next round is close to home for Neary at Oulton Park, over the May Monday weekend of April 29/May 1.

pic credit Dave Yeomans


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Hegarty's ready for the North West 200!

Top Gun Hegarty all set to fire at 2017 Vauxhall International North West 200.

Dan Hegarty made his debut at the 2016 Vauxhall International North West 200 and the Nottingham rider can’t wait to return with his new Top Gun team in May.

Held wearer Dan Hegarty: Getting ready!

The 31 year old will be riding in the Superbike, Superstock and Supersport races on the Honda Racing Fireblade that Conor Cummins campaigned last season alongside a Supersport spec CBR600RR Honda and a 2017 spec Fireblade in the Superstock races.

“I really enjoyed last year’s North West.” the Nottingham rider said during the Honda test at Castle Combe last week.

“The weather was great and I had a good run in the Superstock race.”

A Scarborough specialist and the top privateer at last year’s Isle of Man TT and Ulster Grand Prix, Hegarty is building his road racing CV. A maiden appearance at the 2016 Macau Grand Prix is now being followed with another season on the Irish roads, beginning at the North West on May 7-13.

Dan looks good in the black Held suit too! 

“The North West is a great circuit and it requires a lot of work to guage your braking markers from the high speeds.” he explained. “My favourite part of the circuit was the coast road section. Coming over Black Hill and the run down into Juniper with all that heavy braking was awesome.”

One of the fastest newcomers at last year’s event, Hegarty will be on one of the fastest bikes on the circuit in 2017.

“I know what riders like John McGuinness has done on the Honda and I know there is plenty more to come from me.” he said. “I will have 20bhp more than I’ve ever had before. We have the donkey now, it is up to refine everything around that.”

Hegarty has switched from the K Tech suspension and Dunlop rubber he used on his stocker Kawasaki last year to Metzeler tyres and Maxton suspension for 2017. What is his goal with the new Honda superbike at this year’s North West?

“I don’t set goals because that is pressure.” the level headed 31 year old says. “As long as I am always going forwards on the roads then I will be happy.”

Dan Hegarty!

Good luck from all at Held!

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